Part 1/10:
The Journey of Pete van Westen: Life Aboard a VOC Ship in the 17th Century
In the year 1655, the Republic of the United Provinces, better known as the Netherlands, was experiencing its Golden Age. As a small country in Northwestern Europe, it commanded the world’s largest commercial fleet, outpacing all European competitors in trade tonnage. In this bustling milieu, a young man named Pete van Westen embarked on a journey that would forever change his life, trading the monotony of farm life for the vast uncertainties of the East Indies.